Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Cates vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Cates has 1 game left; Thompson has 1 left. We project Thompson for 2.4 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Tage Thompson has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Expected goals 53.9%.
Thompson's biggest edges: Hardest shot 97.9, 20+ mph bursts 176, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35.
Head to head on the dot, Cates leads Thompson 14–12.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Tage Thompson
2.26
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tage Thompson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cates | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.39 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.28 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Cates vs Thompson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cates 6G 7A, 23 SOG · Thompson 6G 5A, 27 SOG
Cates's offensive zone 5–2 · neutral 4–6 · Cates's defensive zone 5–4 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Cates's side)
13:08 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cates's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–13
- 43.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.5
- 66.3%
- Goals
- 3–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cates | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-14 | PHI 2–5 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-12-18 | PHI 3–5 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-03 | PHI 5–2 BUF | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-17 | PHI 4–5 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-29 | PHI 7–4 BUF | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-05 | PHI 2–4 BUF | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-11-03 | PHI 5–1 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-01 | PHI 2–5 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2023-03-17 | PHI 5–2 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-09 | PHI 4–0 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-17 | PHI 3–5 BUF | 1G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2022-04-16 | PHI 3–4 BUF | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 pts
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJ
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Noah Cates or Tage Thompson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- Who is better, Noah Cates or Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tage Thompson leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cates and Thompson done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 5–7. Cates had 13 points (6 goals) and Thompson had 11 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cates or Thompson?
- Against each other, Cates has won 14 and Thompson 12 of their 26 head-to-head draws.
2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →